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Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Links to the Future

Shelton Quarles hopes the game of golf, and his Tee It Up program, will help some at-risk children find a passion for the rest of their lives

LB Shelton Quarles is helping bring golf to kids who otherwise would have no exposure to it

Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Shelton Quarles loves the game of golf so much he just had to share it with others.

Of course, that's in keeping with the Quarles' nature, as he has long been one of the most altruistic players on the team.

On Wednesday, March 15 Quarles' IMPACT Foundation kicked off an eight-week-long golf clinic titled "Tee It Up" at Rogers Park Golf Course in Tampa. Tee It Up is designed to introduce at-risk and economically disadvantaged elementary school children to golf with the hope that it will become a lifelong interest for some of them.

Through Tee It Up, PGA professional Kennie Sims will help approximately 10 children from nearby Foster Elementary Academy become acquainted with one of the oldest games in history. While the clinic will teach the kids the mechanics of a golf swing, the hope is that valuable life lessons will be learned as well.

An avid golfer himself, Quarles views golf as an opportunity to pass along to children who otherwise might not be exposed to the game some important values that could help them throughout life. In addition to the basics of golf instruction, the program will include lessons in sportsmanship, etiquette, motivation, discipline and other positive golf principles.

"I think a lot of kids would enjoy the game of golf, but they just don't have the equipment or anybody to teach them how to play," said Quarles. "I think golf has a lot of etiquette to it. I think it can teach you things other than how to play the game of golf that will tell these kids how they should act in society."

Each child involved in the Tee It Up program will be provided with a set of youth golf clubs, golf bag, golf shirt, golf balls, hat/visor and glove. The program also includes golf privileges at Rogers Park for each of the kids and a mentor.

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In Fashion

On the evening of Wednesday, March 15, several Tampa Bay Buccaneers hit the runway at the Jocks & Jewels celebrity fashion show in order to raise funds for the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Inc. Tampa Bay (NCADD).

The Jocks & Jewels Fashion Show was hosted by Charisse Strawberry and emceed by Reggie "Mr. October" Jackson and Deion Sanders. It included dinner, silent and live auctions, featured professional athletes and some of their spouses and celebrity models. Buccaneer players and wives who took a turn on the catwalk included Kiersten Allen, Mike and Nicole Alstott, Juran Bolden, Michael Clayton, Cindy Gruden, Michael and Melissa Pittman, Alex Smith and Greg Spires.

The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. Tampa Bay is a non-profit organization serving the Tampa Bay community. NCADD Tampa's services include alcohol and other drug education, information, advocacy, referral and prevention.

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